Slider re-rallies to take Speakeasy

ARCADIA, Calif. — Displaying immature behavior, Slider set the early pace, lost his lead briefly, and rallied through the stretch to reach the front for a comfortable win in Saturday’s $102,500 Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita.

The inconsistent manner in which Slider won left winning trainer John Sadler wondering what the colt can accomplish with experience.

“That’s spooky,” Sadler said, leaving the winner’s circle.

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Ridden by Hector Berrios and sent off favored, Slider ($3.80) ran five furlongs in 55.96 seconds in his turf debut in the Speakeasy. He led through an opening quarter-mile in 21.20 seconds before drifting out on the turn and allowing Dark Vintage to take a brief lead on the inside.

Once settled in the stretch, Slider zoomed back to the front to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Slider earned a 76 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He was looking around,” Berrios said. “When he felt the other horse, he came back. When he runs straight, he’s different.”

For a few strides, Slider looked to have lost the race, giving jockey Juan Hernandez hope that he could steal a win on Dark Vintage, the 4-1 second choice.

“I was in front by a half-length,” Hernandez said. “The other horse wasn’t focused at all.

“It looked like he was looking for company. He came back and got me again. My horse ran good. He’s improving.”

Dark Vintage finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 15-1 April Vintage.

Slider, Dark Vintage, and April Vintage all made their first starts in stakes in the Speakeasy, having won maiden races for sprinters at Del Mar’s summer meeting in their previous races.

Des Doigts finished fourth, followed by Bear River, Always On Cay, Charge for Gold, Tranche, Mysticism, and Lord Prancealot.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into an incident on the turn when Tranche ran erratically and forced Charge for Gold to be checked. The order of finish was not changed.

Slider, a colt by Jimmy Creed, is bound for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at five furlongs at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 in his next start. Owned by the partnership of Hall Racing, Pearl Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds, Slider has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $125,600.

After finishing second to the well-regarded Heartland in a maiden race at Del Mar on July 29, Slider rebounded to win a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs by three lengths on Sept. 9.

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